3330 N Lincoln Ave

Chicago, IL 60657

773-697-8013

​www.activebalancechicago.com

Integrative Medicine to balance the body, mind and soul

Active Balance utilizes a blend of eastern and western medicine to provide clients with results. Treatments are customized to the individual depending on what is needed to aid the body in optimal health and wellness. Set up an appointment today to find the strategy to getting you on the road to balanced health.

Scroll down to see a description of all we have to offer.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is an ancient system of Eastern Medicine with a history spanning thousands of years. Based on countless observations and time-tested theories, pathways of energy (also known as meridians) were mapped on the human body. Meridians can be likened to freeways - sometimes cars move too fast, too slow, in the wrong direction, or there's a traffic jam. Acupuncture needles then act as traffic controllers, helping the body regulate its own energy flow until everything runs smoothly again.

Acupuncture needles are as fine as human hair. Most people who have had acupuncture would describe it as virtually painless or perhaps feel a slight prick as the needle goes in. The sensations that follow range from nothing at all, to mild tingling, to slight numbness/achiness, to electrical pulsations in areas distant from the site of insertion. All these sensations usually subside once the needles are removed. Additional remedies such as Chinese herbal medicine, cupping, moxabustion, heat therapy, and essential oils may be utilized to enhance the treatment.

The World Health Organization and National Institutes of Health identified the following list of conditions acupuncture effectively treats. Please note there are plenty of other conditions that centuries of empirical data have shown acupuncture also treats but for which there is little or no modern Western research. If you have an issue not listed below, be sure to contact us so we can answer any questions you may have about your specific situation.

At Active Balance we try to demystify Traditional Chinese Medicine by thoroughly explaining the "what" and "why" behind each process. You will receive individualized attention and an in-depth treatment plan that addresses you as a whole, and not just as a list of unrelated complaints. True health can be achieved when the body is no longer impeded in its ability to heal itself.

Massage

There's no denying the power of bodywork. Whether we seek out massage for pampering, rejuvenation, stress relief, pain management, or therapeutic reasons, massage therapy can be a powerful ally in your healthcare regimen.

Experts estimate that upwards of ninety percent of disease is stress related. And perhaps nothing ages us faster, internally and externally, than high stress. While eliminating anxiety and pressure altogether in this fast-paced world may be idealistic, massage can, without a doubt, help manage stress. This translates into:

Decreased anxiety.

Enhanced sleep quality.

Greater energy.

Improved concentration.

Increased circulation.

Reduced fatigue.

At Active Balance, we want you to leave feeling your body is relaxed and your mind is clear.

We combine a mulititude of massage techniques from swedish to deep tissue, sports massage, neuromuscular, tui na, and trigger point, to sensory repatterning and pin and stretch in order to relieve what is ailing your body.

We do tend to be a bit more site specific and therapeutic focused, but we are happy to accomodate those looking for a more relaxing, de-stressing treatment.

What exactly are the benefits of receiving massage or bodywork treatments? Massage is useful for all of the conditions listed below and more, it can:

Release endorphins—amino acids that work as the body's natural painkiller.

Relieve migraine pain.

Pediatric Acupuncture

Acupuncture safely and effectively treats many common pediatric conditions and has been used in China for thousands of years. At our clinic, we believe that every child is unique and deserves an equally unique approach to treatment.

We focus on understanding your child’s health condition and creating an individual healing program that addresses your child’s symptoms along with the underlying cause.

Pediatric Acupuncture Works Well for the Following Conditions:

Sinus infections, headaches

Allergies, colds, congestion

Ear infections, ear pain, clogged ears

Bronchitis, asthma, cough

Constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, IBS

Growing pains, sports injuries, broken bones, rheumatoid arthritis

Eczema, hives, rashes

Tics, anxiety, ADD/ADHD, autism

Eastern Nutrition

We use food as medicine and discuss with clients foods that will aide in supporting their systems helping to treat the underlying issues. The nutrition is used in conjunction with acupuncture treatments.

In Chinese medicine there is no clear distinction between food and medicine. They are considered to be one and the same. We believe you can eat to promote health or you can eat to promote disease. A well-planned diet can reverse illness and heal the body from disease. As we seek to bring balance to our meals we promote balance in our bodies. Blending the best of Western and Eastern practices will form a comprehensive, systematic, and holistic nutritional approach to achieve better health.

Americans are slowly letting go of the typical Western diet and adopting diets more conducive to health, such as the Mediterranean diet, low-glycemic diet, and anti-inflammatory diet. We can use functional food testing to back our findings of pattern issues and develop dietar recommendation to aide the body in healing with food as medicine.

Food Sensitivity & Adrenal Testing

At Active Balance we use ALCAT food sensitivity and cortisol testing as a tool to uncover food and/or chemical sensitivities and hormone imbalances in clients. These tests can be a great tool to confirm dietary issues that are inhibiting healing inside your body with your underlying patterns. These food sensitivities or hormone imbalances may be the triggers of chronic inflammation and its related health issues such as gastrointestinal, metabolic disorders, weight gain and others.

The Alcat Test enables us to help personalize nutrition plans for clients blending western science with eastern medicine. We help our clients to understand how food effects their bodies so that they can have an active role in how their health can be improved and maintained.

Tests can be done with a 50 food panel up to 237 foods tested, along with sesativites to molds, additives, perservative, functional foods and medicianal herbs. The results from the Alcat Test can help determine which foods and other substances may trigger unwanted inflammation. The personalized nutrition plan based on your immune response can assist with food choices that are better for your health and well-being.

Cupping is the inverse of massage. Rather than applying pressure to muscles, the suction uses pressure to pull skin, tissue and muscles upward creating space, removing stagnation, increasing blood flow and range of motion. Increased blood flow to muscles and surrounding tissue brings in oxygenated blood and fluids to carry out metabolic waste and deliver the components that are needed for tissue repair, as well as break up any superficial adhesions in the tissue that might be contributing to muscle tension and pain.

Functional Rehabilitation & Gait Analysis

Functional rehab incorporates agility and proprioceptive/kinesthetic training, along with utilizing the strength and flexibility aspects of physical therapy which enables a client's participation at preinjury levels of activity while reducing the risk of recurrent injury. The purpose of this is to return the client to highly complex movement patterns such as athletics.

Gait analysis serves to provide a unique, personal movement "map." That "map" reveals the programming of everything happening within your body—from kinestetic awareness and habit, to individual levels of mobility, stability, flexibility, and functional strength. The analysis of these different elements create a complete picture of a person's gait and movement pattern.

Facial Rejuvenation

Facial rejuvenation acupuncture, sometimes referred to as "acupuncture facelift," is a wonderful timeless beauty technique used by the Chinese since the Sung Dynasty (960-1279AD). In Chinese, it is called "Me Rong Zhen". Cosmetic acupuncture was performed on the Empress and Emperor's concubines. Today, it is an effective non-surgical yet painless way to lessen the appearance of fine lines as well as deeper wrinkles. According to Chinese medicine, it improves circulation and stimulates the body's natural anti-aging powers.

The International Journal of Clinical Acupuncture reported in a recent study of 300 people, 270 perceived a marked decrease of facial wrinkles after just one treatment. Their skin felt firmer to the touch and elasticity was improved.

Hair-thin needles are gently inserted into specific points on the face to facilitate the movement of blood and stimulate the production of collagen. This in turn nourishes, re-hydrates, tones and reduces the appearance of facial wrinkles. Your skin will also have a more youthful glow.

Natural creams and or serums are applied with some facial massage, tui na, or cupping to increase circulation and collagen. In advanced facial acupuncture, synergistic points are used on the arms, legs and body to further strengthen the body's energy, thereby enhancing beauty from the inside out. With this complete holistic treatment, we can achieve a balance between improving exterior facial beauty and strengthening the internal energies that influence beauty.

Treatments improve muscle tone and dermal contraction, increase collagen production, tighten pores, and increase local circulation of blood and lymph around the face. It can be used to reduce a double chin and sagging jowls, help to decrease inflammation, and puffy or droopy eyelids.

A complete course of treatment is 10 to 12 sessions, 1 to 2 sessions a week. The measure of improvement depends on the individual. Factors such as diet, exercise and lifestyle also contribute to the effectiveness of the treatments. Noticeable results are usually achieved after 6 to 8 sessions. A session takes about 60 minutes. We will also recommend herbal supplements as well as diet and lifestyle changes in order to solidify the effectiveness of the treatments.

Active Balance offers a corporate wellness program to aide companies with providing their employees the tools to help them balance their everyday work-life. Our customizable program includes chair massages, acupuncture for stress management, ergonomic assessments, and lunch and learn talks with topics ranging from nutrition to foam roller exercises.

Please contact our office at info@activebalancechicago.com for more details.